The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra
Ratings3
Average rating3.7
In The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt Toby Wilkinson, one of the leading Egyptologists of his generation, goes behind the dazzling mask of Ancient Egypt to make the story of one of the world's greatest (and in terms of longevity, most successful) civilisations accessible to the general reader. From the pharaohs at the apex to the slaves at the base of the pyramids they built, the unifying theme will be the darker side of pharaonic civilisation- the relentless propaganda that infiltrated every aspect of public life, the cut-throat politics that lay behind the mask of unchanging monarchy and the brutality and repression that underpinned royal authority will all be fully examined in this major history that will draw on the latest research, including the author's own original fieldwork.
Reviews with the most likes.
After 20% I'm ready to move this to my DNF pile. I wholeheartedly agree with the reviewers who find the presentation of his thesis so crude that it's just a chore to read through.
If you agree, and if you have a title you know and like that would quench my thirst for Egyptian history, please let me know.